For those who reminisce on the good old ’70s and ’80s, a festival sure to conjure up old memories and exhibit the culture of the time is to be held next month.

The music festival “Arirang Fest,” themed around the music of the ’70s and ’80s and makgeolli, one of Korea’s favorite alcoholic beverages, will be held for the first time from June 8-10 at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. 

Well-known singers and bands from the era, including rock singer Kim Jong-seo, band Love and Peace and six other singers and bands, will perform on June 8.

Comedian Kim Hak-rae will emcee the event and take the audience back to the old days.

The highlight of the festival will be the “Memories of Theater Show” that will recreate a once famous show from the ’60s and ’70s.

It will feature the best singers of the time including trot singers Nam Jin, Song Dae-gwan, Jang Gye-hyun, Lee Su-mi, Ok Hee and Jin Mi-ryung from June 9-10.

Following the concerts is a comedy show emceed by comedian Lee Bong-won to add to the fun.

The festival will also feature events where visitors can taste makgeolli brands from different provinces, along with food that will stimulate their appetite in the summer. They can taste makgeolli at an old tavern built specially for the event, just as people used to stop by roadside taverns to rest during a long journey back in the old days.

Makgeolli, a roughly filtered traditional Korean rice wine, was the most popular alcoholic beverage in the 1970s.

Educational events will also take place to show visitors the history of makgoelli and the brewing process.

An upbeat pumba performance will welcome visitors at the start and end of the festival in the lobby of the 53,000 square meter festival venue.

A Bongsan mask dance, an officially registered piece of Intangible Cultural Property, will also add more color to the festival.

Visitors can also experience old Korean farming life and straw crafts.

Straw art master Im Chae-ji will host a straw craft class to promote crafts made with straw and traditional agricultural life.

The entry fee is 50,000 won per person and tickets are on sale at ticket.interpark.com.

Tickets will also be available at the festival venue.

For special group discounts and more information, call (02) 738-2340.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)